129 patient evaluations for Interferon beta-1a IM Injection

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Mar 18, 2013 (Started May 01, 2006)

  • Effectiveness
    None (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (flu like symptoms)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
  • 0 helpful marks

Mar 10, 2012 (Started May 09, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (injection site redness)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Dosage: 30 mcg M,W,F
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Oct 1, 2010 (Started Jun 10, 1998)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (flu like symptoms)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 30 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly
Cost: $25-49 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Oct 15, 2010 (Started Jun 06, 1999)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (flu like symptoms)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 30 mcg Weekly
Advice & Tips: most difficult part is the needle. if your muscles are tense it hurts. the more relaxed, the less the hurt. used to get everything ready, choose the general shot location on my thigh, tighten my leg as tight as i could, then relax it, look off to the side a little and start counting backwards from 10. at some point, i'd stab the needle/syringe in, sort of surprising myself then look at where it landed. it landed way off course only once, didn't go in all the way a couple of times, but otherwise worked GREAT for me!
Cost: $25-49 monthly
Side effects: flu like symptoms

Jun 10, 2010 (Started Jun 06, 1999)

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (flu like symptoms)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Dosage: 30 mcg Weekly
Advice & Tips: IM injections are daunting and the more tense you are, the more it hurts. Figure out ways to RELAX (i do yoga, take a bath, or drink a glass of wine first)
Cost: $25-49 monthly
Side effects: flu like symptoms
  • 0 helpful marks

May 4, 2012 (Started Jan 01, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Never taken as prescribed
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Advice & Tips: VERY UPSET! I WAS ON BETASERON....AND DOING SO WELL ONIT! MEDICARE TOOK ME OFF IT UNTIL I FAILED OTHER INJECTABLES!! WE TRIED THE AVONEX, BUT MY HUSBAND AT THE TIME COULD NOT GET PAST THE INJECTION ITSELF! SO, NOW IT HAS BEEN OVER 2 YEARS SINCE I HAVE HAD AN INJECTABLE MANAGEMENT TOOL AND OF COURSE THE MS IS JUST GETTING WORSE!!!
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Feb 5, 2011 (Started Jul 10, 1999)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Never taken as prescribed
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Advice & Tips: My husband gave me the shots every other day for 11 years. My neurologist suggested going off it as it seems I have plateaued, & I'm over 65. It's been over a year and I have had no exacerbations. Still using my walker & scooter.
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Apr 23, 2012 (Started Apr 08, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 30 mcg Weekly
Advice & Tips: Stay with it. The benefits to me far outweigh the risk. With Avonex I have been able to continue working and feel like I am a productive adult who can care for myself. The downside: The cost is horrid , with insurance I pay for the first two months each year. this is approximately $4000 out of pocket.
Cost: $200+ monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Sep 21, 2006 (Started Sep 20, 2004)

  • Effectiveness
    None (for General health)
  • Effectiveness
    None (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (dizziness and feeling faint)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Cost: $100-199 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Mar 14, 2012 (Started Jan 15, 2007)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (short period flu like symptoms)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 30 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly
Advice & Tips: Once of the easiest treatments to take Unfortunately it did not slow the progression of my MS as much as I would have liked it to. However this is a great treatment for those newly diagnosed with MS if its not severe
  • 0 helpful marks

Mar 11, 2012 (Started Sep 10, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (muscle and joint pain)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Dosage: 30 mcg Weekly
Advice & Tips: I manage side effects by taking hydrocodone. I am also taking Lexapro for the anxiety/depression caused by Avonex. Strangely, I have not had a cold of any kind in the 3 years I have been on Avonex. The ipact of Abonex is that it takes a day and a half out of each week. I have to plan my week around the days I am debilitated by side effects.
Cost: $50-99 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks
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